Abstract: A method helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle (10) equipped with an automated driving system (200) and a vehicle safety system (100) by detecting low impact crash events (99) with the vehicle (10). The method includes utilizing automated driving sensors (220, 230, 240, 250, 260) of the automated driving system (200) to identify possible low impact collision risks. The method also includes utilizing vehicle safety system sensors (110, 115, 120, 125, 130) of the vehicle safety system to determine a low impact collision resulting from the identified possible low impact collision. A vehicle safety system (100) includes an airbag controller unit (150) configured to implement the method to determine low impact crash events with the vehicle (10).

Abstract: A restraint control system of a vehicle includes: a position module configured to determine positions of seats within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; a restraint control module configured to, in response to detection of a collision of the vehicle: select which ones of the restraints of the vehicle to activate based on the positions of the seats; activate the selected restraints of the vehicle; and not activate non-selected ones of the restraints.

Abstract: A method helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle (10) equipped with an automated driving system (200) and a vehicle safety system (100) by detecting low impact crash events (99) with the vehicle (10). The method includes utilizing automated driving sensors (220, 230, 240, 250, 260) of the automated driving system (200) to identify possible low impact collision risks. The method also includes utilizing vehicle safety system sensors (110, 115, 120, 125, 130) of the vehicle safety system to determine a low impact collision resulting from the identified possible low impact collision. A vehicle safety system (100) includes an airbag controller unit (150) configured to implement the method to determine low impact crash events with the vehicle (10).

Abstract: A method for detecting a malfunction or defect of a sensor of a vehicle safety device uses a control unit of the vehicle safety device and at least one self-testing sensor which is separate from the control unit and transmits measuring values to the control unit.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint (14, 16) in a vehicle (12). An sensor (24) is mounted in the vehicle (12) and outputs an electrical signal having a characteristic indicative of a vehicle event. A discrimination circuit (42) is coupled to the sensor (24) and determines if a predetermined event occurred. A safing circuit (50) is copied to the sensor (24) signal and sequestered from the discrimination circuit (42) for determining if the predetermined event occurred. An actuation device is actuates the restraint when both the discrimination circuit (42) and the safing circuit (50) determine the predetermined event occurred.

Abstract: A method for detecting a malfunction or defect of a sensor of a vehicle safety device uses a control unit of the vehicle safety device and at least one self-testing sensor which is separate from the control unit and transmits measuring values to the control unit.

Abstract: A measurement device (10) mounting arrangement includes a support member (30) and a sensing device (12) in a circuit housing (22). The circuit housing (22) is electrically and mechanically connected to the support member (30) through a mounting structure (32). The circuit housing (22) has a resonance frequency and the sensing device (12) has an operational resonance frequency. The sensing device (12) measures a physical parameter and provides a signal indicative thereof. An under-fill material (40) is located between the support member (30) and the circuit housing (22) for shifting the resonance frequency of the circuit housing (22) away from the operational resonance frequency of the sensing device (12).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint (14, 16) in a vehicle (12). An sensor (24) is mounted in the vehicle (12) and outputs an electrical signal having a characteristic indicative of a vehicle event. A discrimination circuit (42) is coupled to the sensor (24) and determines if a predetermined event occurred. A safing circuit (50) is copied to the sensor (24) signal and sequestered from the discrimination circuit (42) for determining if the predetermined event occurred. An actuation device is actuates the restraint when both the discrimination circuit (42) and the safing circuit (50) determine the predetermined event occurred.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint (14, 16) in a vehicle (12). An sensor (24) is mounted in the vehicle (12) and outputs an electrical signal having a characteristic indicative of a vehicle event. A discrimination circuit (42) is coupled to the sensor (24) and determines if a predetermined event occurred. A safing circuit (50) is coupled to the sensor (24) signal and sequestered from the discrimination circuit (42) for determining if the predetermined event occurred. An actuation device is actuates the restraint when both the discrimination circuit (42) and the safing circuit (50) determine the predetermined event occurred.

Abstract: A measurement device (10) mounting arrangement includes a support member (30) and a sensing device (12) in a circuit housing (22). The circuit housing (22) is electrically and mechanically connected to the support member (30) through a mounting structure (32). The circuit housing (22) has a resonance frequency and the sensing device (12) has an operational resonance frequency. The sensing device (12) measures a physical parameter and provides a signal indicative thereof. An under-fill material (40) is located between the support member (30) and the circuit housing (22) for shifting the resonance frequency of the circuit housing (22) away from the operational resonance frequency of the sensing device (12).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system. A central crash accelerometer senses crash acceleration at a central vehicle location provides a first crash acceleration signal. A side-satellite accelerometer senses crash acceleration substantially parallel with a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the central crash acceleration signal and the side-satellite signal.

Abstract: A system (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes a vehicle occupant protection device (20). An event sensor (14) is operative to sense a vehicle event condition such as a vehicle crash or rollover and provides a vehicle event condition signal (22) indicative of the sensed vehicle condition. A vehicle operating condition sensor (18) senses vehicle operation conditions such as ignition starts, vehicle speed, etc. A controller (16) is operative to determine the occurrence of a vehicle event in response to the vehicle condition signal (22). The controller (16) is operative to provide an actuation signal (24) for actuating the vehicle occupant protection device (20) in response to determining the occurrence of the vehicle event. A software key (100) is provided having a disable mode (106) in which the controller (16) is inhibited from providing the actuation signal (24). The software key is responsive to the signals from the vehicle operating sensors (18).

Abstract: A sensor assembly (14) for sensing an impact to a vehicle (10) includes a light source (34) for emitting light and a sensing channel (40) for receiving the emitted light. The sensing channel (40) is configured to deform in response to an impact to the vehicle (10) and includes at least one void (70) with dimensions that vary in response to deformation of the sensing channel (40). A detector (36) senses an intensity of the light propagating through the sensing channel (40) and provides a signal indicative of the sensed intensity. The sensed intensity varies as a function of the dimensions of the at least one void (70). The sensor assembly (14) also includes a controller (94) for analyzing the signal from the detector (36) to determine whether the sensing channel (40) has been deformed and thereby, whether an impact to the vehicle (10) has occurred.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for controlling an actuatable restraint (14, 16) in a vehicle (12). An sensor (24) is mounted in the vehicle (12) and outputs an electrical signal having a characteristic indicative of a vehicle event. A discrimination circuit (42) is coupled to the sensor (24) and determines if a predetermined event occurred. A safing circuit (50) is coupled to the sensor (24) signal and sequestered from the discrimination circuit (42) for determining if the predetermined event occurred. An actuation device is actuates the restraint when both the discrimination circuit (42) and the safing circuit (50) determine the predetermined event occurred.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling a vehicle actuatable occupant restraining system. A central crash accelerometer senses crash acceleration at a central vehicle location provides a first crash acceleration signal. A side-satellite accelerometer senses crash acceleration substantially parallel with a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraining system in response to the central crash acceleration signal and the side-satellite signal.

Abstract: A sensor assembly (14) for sensing an impact to a vehicle (10) includes a light source (34) for emitting light and a sensing channel (40) for receiving the emitted light. The sensing channel (40) is configured to deform in response to an impact to the vehicle (10) and includes at least one void (70) with dimensions that vary in response to deformation of the sensing channel (40). A detector (36) senses an intensity of the light propagating through the sensing channel (40) and provides a signal indicative of the sensed intensity. The sensed intensity varies as a function of the dimensions of the at least one void (70). The sensor assembly (14) also includes a controller (94) for analyzing the signal from the detector (36) to determine whether the sensing channel (40) has been deformed and thereby, whether an impact to the vehicle (10) has occurred.

Abstract: A sensor (14) for sensing an impact to a vehicle (10) comprises a deformable member (26) through which an elongated chamber (30) extends. Deformation of the deformable member (26) is indicative of an impact to the vehicle (10). A light source (74) emits light through the chamber (30). A first detector (104) senses an intensity of the light emitted by the light source (74) and provides a first intensity signal indicative thereof. A second detector (96) senses the intensity of the light that passes through the chamber (30) and provides a second intensity signal indicative thereof. The intensity of the light that passes through the chamber (30) varies as a function of deformation of the deformable member (26). A controller (62) analyzes the first and second intensity signals to determine whether an impact to the vehicle (10) has occurred.

Abstract: A system (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes a vehicle occupant protection device (20). An event sensor (14) is operative to sense a vehicle event condition such as a vehicle crash or rollover and provides a vehicle event condition signal (22) indicative of the sensed vehicle condition. A vehicle operating condition sensor (18) senses vehicle operation conditions such as ignition starts, vehicle speed, etc. A controller (16) is operative to determine the occurrence of a vehicle event in response to the vehicle condition signal (22). The controller (16) is operative to provide an actuation signal (24) for actuating the vehicle occupant protection device (20) in response to determining the occurrence of the vehicle event. A software key (100) is provided having a disable mode (106) in which the controller (16) is inhibited from providing the actuation signal (24). The software key is responsive to the signals from the vehicle operating sensors (18).

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing pressure in vehicle tires includes an interrogator (102) for providing a tire pressure interrogation signal, and a tire pressure monitor (70) for sensing pressure within a first tire (24) of the vehicle (20) and providing an actual tire pressure signal. A first wheel speed sensor (42) associated with the first tire (24) provides a reference wheel speed signal upon movement of the vehicle (20). A second wheel speed sensor (40) associated with a second tire (22) of the vehicle (20) provides a wheel speed signal upon movement of the vehicle. A controller (60) activates the interrogator (102), monitors the actual tire pressure signal, and correlates the reference wheel speed signal with the wheel speed signal from the second wheel speed sensor (40) for determining a tire pressure value of the second tire (22).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (1) of a vehicle (100). The apparatus (10) includes first means (11) for non-intrusively sensing at least one health condition of the vehicle occupant (1) and for producing a first output signal (110) indicative of the health condition of the vehicle occupant (1). The apparatus (10) further includes 2ND means (21) for transmitting a health condition signal derived from the first output signal (110) to a person at a location remote from the vehicle (100) to convey health condition information to the person and to enable the person to determine a suitable type of response.